Snorkeling With The Smallies

[Dawg]

Spent the weekend on East Grand Traverse Bay, something we do about this time every year. In years past we haven't seen any smallies up in the shallow water (2'-4') between the large boulders but I guess the water temperatures this year better suited the fish, and the zebra mussels have the water gin clear.

Usually I take my gear and try wading out for them, but due to my lack of prior success I left the stuff at home. Someone else in our group brought out the snorkel and fins and came back with a tale of great smallies. This caused great commotion and we soon came up with a couple of rods. We were able to sight fish a couple of the aggresive smaller fish which in turn seemed to spook and scatter the school.

Numerous attempts at fooling the larger fish went unrewarded, but we took turns going back and snorkeling with them. This didn't seem to bother them at all and we were able to swim within a few feet of some very respectable smallies. Banging rocks together frenzied the smaller fish and it was common to see 14-20 fish at a time.

Catching this couple of smallies took the sting off a near skunk on a morning charter of the west bay (1 laker in the box). Marked lots of fish and did see one king in the mouth of the Boardman.

[deepwoods]

Dawg,

Oddly enough I did the same thing this weekend. I was canoeing
the AuSable above the Loud dam and someone had brought along a snorkel and diving mask. We took turns drifting behind the canoes and looking under fall downs, brush, etc... I saw so many fish it blew my mind. AWESOME! I saw many smallies that had to approach 20" long and lots of suckers. They seemed none the wiser that I was watching them. Maybe they thought I was a canoe. LOL Next year I will definitely bring along my own mask along with some swim-fins.

[subocto]

i love snorkeling michigans rivers and lakes. it gives you a whole new perspective on fish habitat and is lots of fun on a hot summer day. if you can find a crayfish, try feeding it to a big bass, ive had few that have almost taken it right from my hand. cool post!:)

[Dawg]

My last attempt at snorkeling had been some 20-25 years ago and all I really remember was drinking lots of lake water and fogged over goggles.

Sure glad I tried it again, it does provide a whole new perspective. Glad the fish were there to twist my arm. Turned over rocks to watch the fish chase crayfish and sort through the silty clouds. I guess snorkel, mask and fins are just a few more toys on the list.

[subocto]

spit in mask (no loogies), rub with finger, rinse with water, put immediately on face. mask will be fog free as long as you keep it on your face.

[ausable_steelhead]

I've always wanted to snorkel a shallow gravel bed to check out spawning king's, anybody ever try it(it'd probably be a death warrant with the snagger's), the water's probably to cold by then, still it would be cool.

[salmonslammer]

We used to snorkel the big manistee in my younger days during the late spring. I have seen some steelies in the holes has you drift over them. Very cool. Also have had a few lampreys bounce off the mask as you float downsteam. Not cool. I like watching all the little browns and bows. Can't imagine floating it for the salmon run. I think that would be a death wish, well at least upstream from high bridge.......

Snagging sucks.....but I do miss the 50# of lead that we pulled from the river every year. Poured alot of jig heads with what we hauled out of there.